Nelf-susiaining Voltaic Battery. 51 
We now come to the consideration of the most delicate part 
of the battery—the conducting plate. The function of this 
plate is solely the elimination of the hydrogen of the electrolyte. 
he plate, indeed, does conduct the positive electricity from the 
electrolyte. But by the chemical theory of the voltaic genera- 
tion, the elimination of the hydrogen from the electrolyte is the 
conduction of the positive electricity; and the conduction of the 
positive electricity is the elimination of the hydrogen—the one is 
inseparable from the other, conduction and decomposition being 
identical in an electrolyte. 
By this it will appear that the liberated hydrogen should not 
be snffered to adhere to the conducting plate, for the gas being a 
very bad conductor, it will resist conduction, and consequently 
chemical action. 
b 
to occult power called the “electro-motive force.” But certainly 
2 surface has been covered with amorphous metal by electro de- 
Position. ‘Then it may be said to be rough or unpolished to the 
